Mets win 11th straight to tie team record, 6-3 over Braves

Jim McIsaac, Getty Images

Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves scores a run in the fourth inning ahead of the throw to Anthony Recker of the New York Mets on a sacrifice fly from teammate Jace Peterson (not pictured) at Citi Field on Thursday. Recker is a former Catasauqua High star.

Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves scores a run in the fourth inning ahead of the throw to Anthony Recker of the New York Mets on a sacrifice fly from teammate Jace Peterson (not pictured) at Citi Field on Thursday. Recker is a former Catasauqua High star. (Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)

Mike FitzpatrickAP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Daniel Murphy drove in four runs and the New York Mets matched a franchise record with their 11th straight victory Thursday, walking their way to a 6-3 win over the Atlanta Braves behind Bartolo Colon.

The streaking Mets, with the top record in the majors despite injuries to several critical players, finished 10-0 on their first homestand of the season after sweeping a trio of NL East rivals.

This is the fifth time the Mets have won 11 games in a row, and the first since 1990. Next stop, the Subway Series beginning Friday night at Yankee Stadium.

Mets catcher Anthony Recker, a Catasauqua High School graduate, wore a blue wrap on his right arm in his third start this year. The team announced Wednesday he has a bone spur in the back of his right elbow that might be removed after the season. Recker went 0-for-4 and struck out three times on Thursday.

Murphy hit an early three-run double, and the 41-year-old Colon outpitched All-Star Julio Teheran in a matchup of unbeaten starters. New York took advantage of eight walks and tied the 1986 World Series champions for the best start in team history at 13-3.

After starting the winning streak April 12 in Atlanta, Colon (4-0) threw virtually all fastballs while pitching in short sleeves on a 49-degree afternoon. He allowed three runs over six innings to win his first four starts for the first time in his career.

Colon has struck out 23 and walked one this season, becoming the first four-game winner in the big leagues. The last starting pitcher 40 or older to open 4-0 was Roger Clemens in 2004 with Houston.

Jeurys Familia worked a hitless ninth for his major league-best eighth save in eight tries since taking over for injured and suspended closer Jenrry Mejia.

New York had never won all 10 games on a homestand before.

Andrelton Simmons had two RBIs for the Braves, who managed six runs in the three-game series. Teheran, the last pitcher to beat the Mets on April 11 in Atlanta, walked five in 4 1-3 innings.

Braves relievers Ian Thomas and Sugar Ray Marimon combined to issue three free passes in the fifth. Eric Campbell drew a bases-loaded walk from Marimon, who is Teheran's cousin, to force in the tiebreaking run.

Michael Cuddyer had an RBI groundout and Murphy added a run-scoring single to make it 6-3 in the seventh.

Teheran (2-1) walked three of his first four batters, and Murphy gave a big fist pump after his bases-clearing double to right field.

The second baseman helped Atlanta tie it in the fourth, though, when he made an ill-advised throw home rather than starting what should have been an easy double play. Everybody was safe, and the Braves pulled even when Simmons hit an RBI single followed by Jace Peterson's sacrifice fly.

Atlanta scored its initial run when A.J. Pierzynski lumbered all the way home from first on Simmons' second-inning double to deep center. Pierzynski originally was called out on a long relay from Juan Lagares and Murphy, but a replay review that lasted 4 minutes, 43 seconds, determined Recker blocked the plate illegally.

That was hardly the only unusual play in a game that featured three replay reviews and a balk. Pierzynski broke too early from first base and was tagged out unassisted by Colon on a caught stealing. Eric Young Jr. opened with a strange bunt single, plopping it over Murphy's head and into shallow right field.

UP NEXT

Braves: After busing down to Philadelphia, the Braves send LHP Alex Wood (1-0) to the mound against RHP Aaron Harang (2-1) in the opener of a three-game series Friday night. Wood had a 1.29 ERA in two starts against the Phillies last season, striking out 15 and walking one in 14 innings.

Mets: NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom (2-1, 0.93 ERA) faces Michael Pineda (2-0, 5.00 ERA) in the Subway Series opener. In his major league debut, deGrom lost 1-0 to the Yankees at home last May. He has thrown 18 1-3 consecutive scoreless innings.